Understanding baptism key to ecumenical recognition, speakers say

Published: 2004-08-03

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (CNS) -- The more Christians understand what baptism means, the easier it will be to ensure that Christian denominations recognize the validity of each other's baptism, said speakers at a major international ecumenical conference. Mutual recognition of baptism and different understandings of the nature and mission of the church were the focus of the initial part of the July 28-Aug. 6 meeting of the World Council of Churches' Commission on Faith and Order in Kuala Lumpur. The commission -- which includes 12 Catholic members although the Roman Catholic Church is not a member of the World Council of Churches -- is a forum for studying theological issues that separate Christian communities. Msgr. John Radano, an official at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, represented the Vatican at the meeting. In an interview posted on the WCC Web site, Msgr. Radano said recognizing each other's baptism "is a very important starting point" for reaching Christian unity.

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